71: Chapter 71 An army is pressing in, and Chu Qinglian?!

The great battle lasted for seven days and seven nights.

The Second Elder traded two blows and ran away first.

Chu Sheng couldn't help but curse, "Coward."

Before the two armies, corpses lay everywhere, and blood flowed like a river.

The elite forces of Yan Kingdom and Tianfeng Kingdom slaughtered each other repeatedly on this long, narrow plain.

But the true outcome never depended on these soldiers at the Qi Induction and Ju Zhen Realm levels.

It depended on the skies.

Within seven days, Commandery Governor Xia Nihuang exchanged blows with that Old Ancestor of Yan Kingdom three times.

The first time, the two exchanged a palm strike above the clouds, the aftermath of which shattered the clouds for ten miles around.

The second time, Xia Nihuang brought out a fiery red long sword, and the Old Ancestor of Yan Kingdom met it with his bare palms.

The two fought from dawn until dusk, and in the end, they retreated, neither gaining the upper hand.

The third time, the two did not make a move, just stood in a standoff across the distance for half an hour.

Then Xia Nihuang smiled, the Old Ancestor of Yan Kingdom also smiled, and they each withdrew their troops to camp.

"That girl is probing."

After returning to camp, the Old Ancestor of Yan Kingdom said to the Ji Yuanzhao, "She wants to know how much strength I have left."

The Ji Yuanzhao asked, "And does she know?"

The Old Ancestor of Yan Kingdom was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "She knows half."

"Half."

Enough to make Xia Nihuang not dare to act rashly, and enough to make her continue to stay here, waiting for an opportunity.

The battle on the ground, however, was even more tragic.

Chu Sheng had barely closed his eyes in these seven days.

He was the vanguard general, charging at the very front, and killing the most ruthlessly.

On the first day, he beheaded three enemy generals of the Ju Zhen Realm.

Those three were long-famous experts from Fengxian Prefecture who had ganged up on him.

As a result, he used a bronze mirror to freeze one, smashed another to death with a jade ruler, and sliced off the head of the last one with the qing feng sword.

On the second day, a Gu Zhen Realm expert came.

It was a burly man holding a pair of golden melon hammers; wherever the hammer wind passed, the soldiers of Yan Kingdom turned into blood mist.

He locked onto Chu Sheng, grinned ferociously, and rushed over, smashing down with a hammer!

Chu Sheng did not take the hit head-on.

He turned and ran, using magic treasures while running.

The jade pendant exploded into a cloud of smoke, the bracers transformed into a stream of light to strike, and the Yellow-grade magic treasures stored in his storage bracelet exploded like they were worthless.

The True Firmament brute was blasted until he was covered in dirt and soot; he chased for half an hour but couldn't catch Chu Sheng.

Instead, he was surrounded by other Yan Kingdom generals and finally retreated in hatred.

On the third day, another True Firmament expert came.

This time it was a sinister old man, skilled in hiding and sneak attacks.

He lurked in the shadows, waiting to strike when Chu Sheng passed by.

As a result, the mid-grade Profound-grade bronze mirror on Chu Sheng automatically protected its master, the mirror surface shining brightly, exposing the old man's sneak attack clearly.

Chu Sheng swung his sword backhand, nearly slicing off the old man's nose.

The old man fled in a panic.

On the fourth day, fifth day, sixth day...

Chu Sheng was like an unkillable cockroach, rampaging across the battlefield.

Those at the Ju Zhen Realm couldn't beat him, and those at the Gu Zhen Realm couldn't catch him.

As soon as someone at the Hua Zhen Realm appeared, he smelled them and ran away without a trace.

"Who is that brat?" the generals of Tianfeng Kingdom asked one after another.

"A Marquis of the Yan Kingdom."

"Damn it, he's slippery, harder to catch than a loach!"

Chu Sheng's reputation gradually spread between the two armies.

On the evening of the seventh day, the battlefield was temporarily at a truce.

Xia Nihuang stood on the highest tower, looking at the lights of the Yan Kingdom camp in the distance.

Behind her stood a girl in green.

The girl was about eighteen years old, with a slender figure and picturesque features.

She stood quietly, a cold aura lingering around her, as if out of place with this bloody battlefield.

Most striking was the faint shadow of a blue lotus appearing beneath her feet.

Chu Qinglian.

"Master."

She spoke, her voice as cold as a spring, "You called for me?"

Xia Nihuang turned around, looking at her, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

"These days, you have been cultivating in the rear, do you know the situation on the front lines?"

Chu Qinglian shook her head.

Xia Nihuang pointed toward the direction of the Yan Kingdom camp in the distance.

"There is a general there, he is Marquis Dingyuan of the Yan Kingdom. He has killed many of our people these days; those at the Ju Zhen Realm are no match for him, and those at the Gu Zhen Realm can't do anything about him either."

She paused.

"It is said that he has many magic treasures on him; when fighting, he is like a hedgehog, impossible to get a handle on."

Chu Qinglian frowned slightly.

"Master wants me to go kill him?"

Xia Nihuang smiled.

"Kill him? Not necessarily."

She shook her head, "I just want you to go meet him. You have been cultivating for eighteen years, yet you have never truly fought with anyone. This person is perfect for you to practice with."

Chu Qinglian was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Disciple obeys."

She turned to leave, but Xia Nihuang suddenly called her back.

"Qinglian."

Chu Qinglian turned back.

Xia Nihuang looked at her, her gaze deep.

"Do you know why I have never told you about your background all these years?"

Chu Qinglian shook her head.

Xia Nihuang sighed lightly.

"Because telling you would only distract you. You have the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal Body, destined to walk a path different from ordinary people. Romantic entanglements and family ties will only become a burden to you."

She walked up to Chu Qinglian and raised her hand to gently stroke her hair.

"All these years, I have treated you as my own. You should understand."

Chu Qinglian lowered her eyes.

"Disciple understands."

Xia Nihuang nodded and withdrew her hand.

"Go. There is no need to hold back."

Chu Qinglian turned around, stepped on the moonlight, and disappeared into the night.

Xia Nihuang stood on the watchtower, looking at her retreating figure, her eyes complex.

"Chu Sheng..."

She muttered, "If you are smart, don't let her know who you are."

Half an hour later, at the edge of the Yan Kingdom camp.

Chu Sheng had just returned from discussing matters at the commander's tent and was heading to his own tent.

He was exhausted from these seven days; his bones felt like they were about to fall apart.

He walked while pondering whether he should fight face-to-face if he encountered a Gu Zhen Realm expert tomorrow.

Suddenly, his footsteps paused.

Not far ahead stood a girl in green.

Under the moonlight, her face was elegant and refined, with a faint shadow of a blue lotus lingering around her, her aura as cold as frost.

Chu Sheng was stunned.

Not because of her beauty, but because—

That face looked too much like Li Zhiyi.

"Who are you?" he asked in a deep voice.

The girl looked at him, her gaze calm as water.

"The one who will kill you."

Before the words fell, she had already lunged over!

The sword light was like a rainbow, stabbing straight at Chu Sheng's throat!

"Old thief, die!"

Chu Sheng's pupils shrank, he stomped hard on the ground, and his figure retreated violently!

He retreated while shouting, "Who are you, little girl! I have no grudge against you!"

The girl did not answer; her sword moves were continuous, one faster than the next!

Chu Sheng dodged in a sorry state, taking a moment to gauge her cultivation—

Ju Zhen Realm!

An eighteen-year-old in the Ju Zhen Realm!

"Are, are you a monster?!" He almost bit his tongue.

The girl's sword techniques were extremely sharp, each sword stroke carrying a faint shadow of a blue lotus.

That sword intent was cold and refined, as if not of this world.

The more Chu Sheng fought, the more frightened he became.

This sword technique, this aura, this appearance...

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

"You..." His voice trembled, "What is your name?"

The girl's sword momentum paused, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"The dead do not need to know."

Chu Sheng did not dodge this sword.

He stood in place, staring blankly at her, his eyes suddenly turning red.

The tip of the girl's sword stopped an inch from his throat.

She looked at him, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Why didn't you dodge?"